Woman freed from death row for retrial in son’s death

PHOENIX – A judge is allowing an Arizona woman to be released on bail as she awaits retrial in the 1989 killing of her young son, a case that had her on death row since 1990 until her conviction was overturn this year.

Judge Rosa Mroz of Maricopa County Superior Court set bond for Debra Milke at $250,000.

The judge’s order Thursday says there’s no direct evidence linking Milke with the death of her 4-year-old son other than a purported confession, and that the validity of that confession is in doubt.

A federal appeals court overturned Milke’s conviction, ruling that the prosecution should’ve disclosed information about the truthfulness of the since-retired detective who testified that Milke confessed.